Cot fastener for ambulances



June 26, 1951 L. J. MITCHELL COT FASTENER FOR AMBULANCS Filed May 2,1949 ...uA-u l.. Il

A fr0/@VEZ Patented June 26, 1951 COT FASTENER FOR AMBULANCES Lee J.Mitchell, deceased, late of Independence, Mo., by Mildred M. Mitchell,widow and solev owner, Independence, Mo.

Application May 2, 1949, Serial No. 90,901

2 Claims.

This invention relates to structure particularly adapted for use withinambulances and the like, taking the form of a 'rigidly mounted rackcapable of receiving and holding a cot in the ambulance againstdisplacement in any direction.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a rack forcots that includes an upstanding standard having spaced-apart elementsfor receiving the cot, there being provided manually releasablestructure capable of permitting quick and easy movement of the cot toand from a position within the rack.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a cothaving a standard provided with a hook at one end thereof for receivinga portion of the cot and manually releasable interengagable structure atthe opposite ends of the standard and the cot for holding the latter inplace.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means on thestandard and the cot adjacent one end thereof for holding the cot withinan open hook located at the opposite end of the standard.

Other objects of the present invention will lbe made clear or becomeapparent as the fol lowing specification progresses, reference being hadto the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a cot rack for automobiles madein accordance with the present invention. l

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; and

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view.

One of the most harassing problems commonly experienced by those in thebusiness of operating and maintaining ambulance services is that ofproviding means for holding an invalid cot steady and againstdisplacement within the ambulance as the latter is placed in motion.This problem is enhanced by the fact that such cots are usually providedwith casters or wheels to permit movement of the same with a patientthereon to and from the ambulance. Since speed of movement of the cotinto and out of the ambulance is highly important, and because of thefact that such movement must be with`care when a patient is on the cot,the rack forming the subject matter hereof has been especially designedto meet all of the problems.

In the drawing, there is illustrated a standard broadly designated bythe numeral I having an elongated bar I2 disposed substantiallyhorizontally and ordinarily parallel with the longitudinal axis of theambulance with which the rack is to be used.

A raised, box-like platform I 4 is provided to rest directly upon thefloor of the ambulance and may be affixed directly thereto if desired.The horizontal bar I2 of the rack I8 has a plurality of downwardlyextending arms I6, each o f which is provided with an out-turned flangeI8 at itslowermost end resting directly upon the platform I4.

As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the ilanges I 8 extend oppositely instaggered relationship and are affixed directly to the platform I4 bymeans of suitable fastening elements passing through openings 20 inflanges I8.

One end of the elongated bar I2 is provided with a hook 22 that mayeither constitute an integral part of the bar I2 or be secured theretothrough the medium of bolts or the like 24. Hook. 22 extends laterallyfrom one side of the bar I2 that faces the doors of the ambulance thatare opened to permit movement of the cot into and out of the ambulance.

As clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the open mouthof the hook 22 faces the opposite end of bar I2. Said opposite end ofbar I2 is likewise provided with a relatively small hook 26 having itsopened mouth facing in the same direction as the opened mouth of thehook 22.

The cot chosen for illustration is broadly designated by the numeral 28and includes a rectangular frame having a caster wheel at each of thefour corners respectively thereof. Two of such caster wheels areillustrated in Fig. 1 and designated by the numeral 30.

An upright frame piece 32 extends upwardly from each of the casterwheels 38 respectively and these frame pieces 32 are in turn joined byhorizontal frame pieces 34 and 36. The two upright frame pieces 32 ofthe cot 28 adjacent one end thereof are joined by a bar 38 between framepieces 34 and 36 by brackets 4I) and 42 that cooperate with the ends ofthe bar 38 in cornpletely circumscribing upright frame pieces 32.

Bolts or the like 44 and 46 for brackets 40 and 42 respectively, holdthe bar 38 clamped on the upright frame pieces 32. Bracket 4'2 isprovided with an arcuate nger 48 that extends beyond the proximal end ofthe bar 38 and this end of bar 38 is also provided with an outwardlyextending lug 50.

A trigger 52 having a hook on one end thereof is pivotally secured tothe lug 50 through the medium of a bolt 54. An elongated rod 56 having aturnbuckle 58 therein for purposes of adjustment, joins the trigger 52with a manually manipulable handle 6l) secured to the opposite end ofthe bar 38.

Handle 66 is pivotally held in place through the medium of one of thebolts 46 for bracket 42. Obviously, the rod 56 has pivotal connection atthe ends thereof with the trigger 52 and with the handle 60respectively.

A spring 62 interposed between the trigger 52 on oneside of the lug I)and the bar 38, yieldably holds the trigger 52 swung toward one end ofits path of travel. Outwardly extending ears on the trigger 52 and onthe bar 38 may be provided for receiving the coil spring 62 and holdingthe same in place.

The operators handling the cot 28, lift the same in position upon theplatform I4 and roll the same by means of the caster wheels 30, to aposition where one of the upright ramepieces `32 is received by the hook22 of rack I0. This frame piece 32 will then readily rotate within thehook 22 to permit swinging of the opposite end of the cot toward therack I6. The nger 48 will move into position on one side of the hook 26proximal to hook 22 and serve to wedge the frame piece 32 Within hook 22tightly in place.V Obviously, hook 22 serves to prohibit movement of the'cot 28 in one direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of bar I2and the nger 48 engagingthe hook 2B will hold the cot from movement inthe opposite direction along bar I2.

The trigger 52 interlocked with respect to the hook 26 in the mannerillustrated in Fig. 2, will assure that the ringer 48 will remain inengagement with the hook 26, and will also prohibit swinging movement ofthe cot 28 away from'the rack IU.

It is to be noted that the ends of the hook 26 and the trigger 52 arerounded to the end that as the operators swing the cot into position,trigger 52 will automatically snap into place against the action ofspring 62. This spring 62 also serves in yieldably holding the trigger'5 2 in a locked position until such time as the operators desire torelease the cot by manipulation of the handle 66. It is clear thatdownward swinging movement of handle 60 will impart a pulling motion tothe rod 56 to cause trigger 52 to swing on its axis 54 against theaction of spring 62. It may be desirable to further hold the cot inposition with respect to the rack I2 and the platform I4 andaccordingly, such platform I4 is provided with an opening for receivingeach of the caster wheels 30 respectively.

These openings are elongated and have an arcuate cup 64 disposedtherewithin and extending downwardly below the uppermost face of theplatform I4. Cups 64 are in turn provided with a continuous out-turnedflange 66 that is inset with respect to the platform I4 and held inplace by a plurality of screws or the like 68.

It is seen from the foregoing that the cot 28 may be easily and quicklymoved into place with respect to the rack i0 and that once the same isso positioned, it will not move in any direction when the ambulance isplaced in motion. Furthermore, when it is desired to remove the cot 28with the patient thereon, the operator simply releases the trigger 52 bymanipulation of handle 60, swings the cot outwardly to release the samefrom hook 22 and thereupon removes the cot from the ambulance.

lIt is apparent that many details of construction might be varied fromthe single modication herein illustrated without departing from thespirit of this invention as dened by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1`.V A cot and rack assembly for ambulances comprising an elongated,horizontal bar adapted for mounting in an ambulance and having a pair ofrigid, spaced-apart, unidirectional hooks Vextending laterally from oneface thereof; a cot having a part insertable in one of the hooks; aprojection on said cot and engageable with the other hooi; for holdingsaid part of the cot within the one hook; and a latch separate from saidprojection and swingable on the cot to and from a position in lockedengagement with said other hook.

2. A cot and rack assembly for ambulances comprising an elongated,horizontal bar adapted for mounting in an ambulance and having a pair ofrigid, spaced-apart, unidirectional hooks extending laterally from oneface thereof; a cot having a part insertable in one of the hooks; aprojection on said cot and engageable with the other hook for holdingsaid part of the cot within the one hook; and a latch separate from saidprojection and swingable on the cot to and from a position in lockedengagement with said other hook, the said other hook being interposedbetween the projection and the latch when the cot is attached to thebar.

MILDRED M. NUTCHELL, Widow and the Sole Owner of the Estate of Lee J.Mitchell, Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,859,480 Van Deest May 24, 19322,076,866 Runkle Apr. 13, 1937 2,375,896 COX May 15, 1945

